Review: Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala

Purchase Price: $13.99 CDN on Amazon.ca
Wave [Kindle Edition]

Genre: Personal Memoir, Natural Disasters, Biography, Auto-Biography, Loss, Grief, Trauma, Contemporary Non-Fiction

Book Description: On the morning of December 26, 2004, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the tsunami she miraculously survived.

**This Review May Contain Some Spoilers**

There is nothing more human than the ability to empathize with another human being. There is nothing more frightening than the unknown. And there is no singular fear that is as universal as the fear of losing control. Wave is a memoir of one woman's utter decimation by a singular moment of what was previously unknown, and at the same time, utterly beyond her control. Sonali Deraniyagala opens up her soul and shares something so raw, so real, so heartrendingly personal, you will never forget it.

How many people had ever even heard of a Tsunami of the magnitude that struck on Boxing Day in 2004. For someone to be battered and tossed about like a rag-doll in the churning waves, to have family ripped from your hands and never be seen again, to have so many people all as lost and broken as you are, all at the same time, it is like hundreds of 9/11s happening all at once, and no one is to blame. There is no face to that kind of destruction, no terrorists, no country, who do you blame?

Sonali Deraniyagala's story is raw and painful and tragic, and I am quite certain that is the case for everyone who experienced the Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004. How do you wrap your brain around something that has destroyed your entire world in just mere minutes of a freak happening, something no one could have imagined or prepared for, something that had previously no widely understood context in the modern world. I was not even half way in to Sonali's story and at that point I could never begin to imagine how she survived that day, let alone the months and years that followed.

If you have read stories of personal loss and tragedy before, if you feel that you know pain, I can only say that this is unlike anything I have read or experienced myself. There is a true discernible difference to this kind of tragic loss, this kind of previously unknown trauma. We grow up learning about the dangers in the world around us, we learn about car accidents, water safety, stranger danger, and fires. Before Boxing Day 2004, no one truly knew the dangers of a Wave, not on this scale. Drowning was a singular experience, or maybe something that happened in a boating accident, not something that happened on a mass scale of natural violence and immense unfathomable loss.

There are many stories of earth-shattering loss available in the form of memoirs or historical accounts, but we have heard relatively little in the way of first-hand accounts from the December 2004 Tsunami, and I think that speaks to the sheer horror experienced by the survivors, their inability or unwillingness to relive those desperate moments, hours, days, weeks... we have heard stories from some of the travelers and vacationers caught up in the Wave, but compile that with the number of locals in Sri Lanka,Thailand, and other affected areas. Many who could tell of the horrors of that day may not be literate, they may have never recovered, or may not even consider this something to be spoken of, how do you put into words something that changed everything you thought you knew or understood in one horrific and violent freak happening. You will cry, you will question, you will be beaten raw by the pain in this one woman's account of her personal hell.

Fired Up Rating: 4.5/5 Flames

Bottom Line:  This book is very different, and it is not in a sensational way, it is in the absolute totality of Sonali's loss, and how unreal the entire event must have seemed, even to those who survived it. How does one put it into words? Somehow, Sonali found her way to the place where she could, and I think that her sharing a glimpse into the hell her world became can only make us feel more human, more fragile, more connected, and more alone all at once. A must-read for students of life, loss, and those seeking an understanding of the multiple ways in which the brain processes grief.

** This review is based on a preview copy of Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala, received through Goodreads First Reads. The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone and have not been influenced in any way by the publisher or author.**

Review: New World Order by Elle Casey

Purchase Price: $4.96 CDN on Amazon.ca
War of the Fae: Book 4 (New World Order) [Kindle Edition]

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fiction, Fantasy, Series, Epic, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Teen, Action Adventure

**This Review Contains Some Spoilers** 

In this fourth, and I believe final, book in the War of the Fae series, we are reunited with all of our favorite friends from the previous three novels in this epic story. Picking up where things left off in Darkness & Light, Elle Casey gives us more of this wonderfully crafted fantasy. Don't despair that the story is about to come to an end, however, there is plenty more of Jayne Sparks Blackthorn and her friends in the Clash of the Otherworlds saga, which immediately picks up where the War of the Fae series leaves off. But before we get there, we are taken on yet another amazing ride courtesy of Casey.

We begin with beloved character Jayne's attempt to recover from a shocking battle with the the Dark Fae, who launched an attack on the Light Fae compound. Jayne's inability to control her elemental powers of Earth and Water has left her in the dark, quite literally, and she must depend upon her friends to help her find her way. Her friend Becky, a Water Sprite, is missing. Her protector Chase is still seemingly aligned with the enemy, and now there is evidence that things back in the human world are not well.

Jayne and her best friend Tony, who is now a changeling as well, find some disturbing messages coming from home, and must decide how to deal with this threat to their families back home in Florida.  With war on the horizon, there is risk in any decision, and Jayne can sense that there is something very wrong with these calls to return home.

Jayne also is battling with her own heart, finally realizing that she has very strong feelings for one person in particular, and the one person she might have no chance at a future with. We finally see the softer side of Jayne, the tough facade eroded to reveal a girl very much trying to find her place in the world and someone to love.

There is just too much greatness in this novel for me to spoil with hints in this post. If you have been following my previous reviews, you will know that there is so much going on, I couldn't possibly give away all of it. But this time, I want you to discover it all on your own. This fourth and final novel in the War of the Fae series is endlessly satisfying, but will leave you with the most shocking turn of events imaginable. It is heartrendingly good reading, and you will find yourself teary eyed when all is said and done.

While I have always felt these books are most appropriate for Young Adults and Adult readers, I want to stress that they are as much accessible to male readers and to female readers.  These are not even remotely like some Paranormal Young Adult novels with a female protagonist that seem to revolve around love and heart break, these books are about action, war, friendship, and finding out who you are truly meant to be. There is cussing, and some romance, but it is all very PG and not at all the center of the story, so don't hesitate to grab up this series as the perfect gift for your Teen or Young Adult readers.

Fired Up Rating: 5/5 Flames

Bottom Line:  If you have been reading the previous books in the War of the Fae series, or plan too, you can be confident that this novel is as good if not better than its predecessors. Elle Casey's writing is almost impossible to put down, and satisfies the reader endlessly. You will be happy to know that this story, while culminating in this fourth novel in the War of the Fae series, is thankfully continued in the next series of books by Elle Casey, Clash of the Otherworlds.

Review: Darkness & Light by Elle Casey

Purchase Price: $4.96 CDN on Amazon.ca
War of the Fae: Book 3 (Darkness & Light) [Kindle Edition]

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fiction, Fantasy, Series, Epic, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Teen, Action Adventure

**This Review Contains Some Spoilers** 

The one thing I can always count on from author Elle Casey, is her uncanny ability to hook a reader into a story or series, and tie them relentlessly into the journey of not only the main protagonist, but also all supporting characters, both good and not so nice. The War of the Fae series is perhaps one of the best examples of this magical connection with her readers. Casey has created a whole world of characters that you very quickly care very much about.

The third book in the War of the Fae series, Darkness & Light, answers many of the questions left hanging by it's predecessor, Call To Arms, and kicks the story into high gear with a lot more action and drama than you can see coming.

We again find main protagonist, Jayne Sparks Blackthorn, adjusting to her life as a "Changeling", learning to move from the human world to her new Fae world. The power she is capable of calling up to her manipulation, known as "The Green", or Earth, is now linked to another element that she can wield, Water.

But all that power is not always an easy thing to manage. Jayne again finds herself stumbling in the dark with no guide as to how she can control these huge elemental forces of Earth and Water. But being in the possession of great power also leaves Jayne vulnerable to those who would wish to use her as a means to accomplish dark and mysterious ends. Jayne's natural streak of rebellion and independence puts her in harms way too often.

Now re-connected with her dearest friend Tony, Jayne finally feels as if things will begin to settle down. She could not have been more mistaken.  The impending war between the Light Fae and the Dark Fae means that no-one can rest, and no one is safe.

Jayne's mischievous friend Tim the Pixie accidentally doses her personal body guard and Daemon protector, Chase, with his pixie dust, and Chase turns into a bubbly giggling mess. In an attempt to get help for Chase, and hide her mistakes, Jayne finds herself turning him over to the care of the Dark Fae. When Jayne goes looking for an update on poor Chase's condition, she herself gets taken hostage.

This third book in the War of the Fae series was by far the most action packed and surprising thus far. Jayne is one of the most compelling characters in modern fiction, equal parts rebellious teenager, warmhearted friend, and accident prone klutz.  I also must add the one thing that makes her absolutely hysterical to read about, her almost constant use of the F-word, with almost Tourette Syndrome like ejaculations of cuss words at the most unbelievable moments.

As with the two previous novels in the War of the Fae series, I found the writing to be nearly flawless. Casey's ability to describe some very unusual and unique circumstances in a way that makes them immediately accessible to the reader is nothing short of brilliant. The level of sexuality in these novels is very tame, hugs and kisses thrown in here and there, but nothing that any parent would have reason to be concerned about. The language, while colorful, especially where Jayne is concerned, only adds to her charm, and is not beyond a level that most teens would be exposed to in the presence of their peers.

Fired Up Rating: 5/5 Flames

Bottom Line:  You will not be disappointed for a moment by continuing to read on in the War of the Fae series, and both Young Adults and Adults alike will be chomping at the bit for more of this fantastic story. It really helps if you have read the first two books in the series, as it definitely helps to set up the world paradigm that Elle Casey has constructed for her characters to inhabit. This is a series you can be assured is worth reading over and over again, there is just so much to love about it.

Review: Nalah and the Pink Tiger by Anne Sawyer-Aitch

Purchase Price: $11.86 USD on amazon.com
Nalah and the Pink Tiger [Paperback]
Not Yet Released On amazon.ca

Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. This is not a paid review, my comments and opinions are mine alone, they are honest impressions, and have not been influenced by the Author or Publisher.

Genre: Children's Books, Children's Literature, Children's Fiction, Illustrated Children's Books

**This Review Contains Some Spoilers** 

Nalah and the Pink Tiger is a lovely first published story book from the very talented Anne Sawyer-Aitch. The story introduces us to the fabulously imaginative young Nalah, who lives in a world of her imagination, where brightly coloured and precocious animals inhabit the rooms of her family home. She has grouchy Mouse living in her sock drawer, a poetic Pig in her bathroom sink, and an Emu that lives in the dining room chandelier.

All these animals are quite silly, and Nalah interacts with them as if they are really with her. On a special visit to the Zoo, Nalah meets a Pink Tiger and her imagination once again goes into overdrive and the Tiger's silly antics follow her home.

I think that for a first Children's book, Nalah and the Pink Tiger is very special indeed. The most charming thing about the book are the illustration, also done by Sawyer-Aitch. I love that the process of creating these magical illustrations is explained in the back of the book. As an artsy crafty person myself, I can appreciate the immense amount of work that each colour filled page must have required.

While reading the book with my nephew, who is seven years old, he was a little confused at the order of the lines in the story. They do appear in different spots around the page, some being plot points, other parts being side dialogue between Nalah and her animals. But he was able to read the book with a fair pace for a Second Grader who only speaks English half of the day at school. Some words were new to him, like "puce", and we had fun looking that up in the dictionary together. He considers himself an artist, as his mother is a graphic artist and I dabble in all media, including Papier-mâché and Acrylic Painting, and he has been doing his own 'Art' since he was a wee bitty fellow. He really liked looking at all the details and the special effects in the images on every page, and that was a nice thing to start a discussion about making books, and how the process might work.

Fired Up Rating: 4/5 Flames

Bottom Line (By My 7 Year Old Nephew): "I think this is a nice book for girls, and also kids that may like animals."

Bottom Line: My feeling is that this book is very special, it is obviously a labor of love by the author, you can see it on every page. Every child should be encouraged to use their imagination. I think that the only issue is what my nephew, and I admit, I myself, found tricky, which is the changing font sizes and the scattered layout of the text bubbles. That is something that can be easily overlooked, and I would recommend this book as a lovely gift for imaginative and artsy children and their parents to share together.

Review: Call To Arms by Elle Casey

Purchase Price: $4.99 CDN on Amazon.ca
War of the Fae: Book 2 (Call To Arms) [Kindle Edition]

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fiction, Fantasy, Series, Epic, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Teen, Action Adventure

**This Review Contains Some Spoilers** 

I anxiously dove into this second book in the War of The Fae series, Call To Arms had a lot of 'splaining' to do after all of the cliff-hanging questions left in place after reading the first book in series by Elle Casey. Where The Changelings left off, Call To Arms picks up and runs with at a fantastic pace. We again find our protagonist Jayne, now adjusting to the world of the Light Fae, with more questions than answers, and as we know, Jayne is not the sort of girl to let that situation sit for very long.

Jayne is reunited with her new friends from The Changelings, now all trying to adjust to their new Fae realities. Chase seems to be taking it all in stride as Jayne's Daemon protector, he is the strong silent type after all. Becky, the ever perky, is now a Water Sprite. Finn is a natural Green Elf, a protector of the forest, and good with a bow and arrow. Spike, Jayne's perma-crush, would of course be a Incubus, with a smoldering passion at all times.  As they all learn what their new changeling identities entail, there are a lot of laughs and a lot of funny moments.

Jayne manages to make new friends as well, including some that most of the adult Fae in the compound can't even believe. Jayne has a really magnetic personality, and is so easy to love through all her faults. Yes she still cusses up a wee storm in this novel, but not as much as in the first. It is just part of who Jayne is, and her crass and straight from the hip honesty is what makes her so awesome as a lead character.

Jayne also manages to whammy a few of the other Fae with her growing powers, and still has very little idea what she is and will be capable of, she is such a rare Fae species. The times when Jayne uses her powers are really fascinating, as she begins to understand how dangerous she can be, and how seductive her connection with 'The Green' is.

But throughout the chapters, we see Jayne's biggest struggle is her fractured connection to her best friend from back home, Tony. When Tony chose to go home and not become Fae, Jayne was distraught but understanding, his life at home wasn't that bad, he liked what he had. The more she tries to reach out to Tony, the farther away he seems to get, and the sudden appearance of a new 'friend' that is changing everything about Tony is even more of concern. Tony is pulling away from Jayne, and praising this new friend just a little to much for comfort. Jayne's natural suspicion kicks into overdrive.

What happens next pushes Jayne into action. Jayne must act to save her friend Tony from being a pawn in a much bigger game. Can Jayne get through to Tony or is it too late?

The War of the Fae series just keeps getting better and better, the characters are more developed and Jayne is really coming into her power, literally and figuratively. Young adults will love this series, but so will anyone who loves fantasy books, and even though there is some swearing, there is no overt sexuality, so it is more than appropriate for teens of all ages.

Fired Up Rating: 5/5 Flames

Bottom Line: Another amazing story crafted by the very talented Elle Casey. If you have read the first in the series, "The Changelings", you will be equally delighted with this follow-up. It answers many of the questions asked in the first book, but poses many more. I have to say, I haven't found a book by Elle Casey that I didn't love, and this is one for your permanent library of favorites.

Review: The Changelings by Elle Casey

Purchase Price: $0.99 CDN on Amazon.ca
War of the Fae: Book 1 (The Changelings)[Kindle Edition]

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fiction, Fantasy, Series, Epic, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Teen, Action Adventure

**This Review Contains Some Small Spoilers** 

I had very high expectations when I started to read The Changelings by Elle Casey, and I am very happy to say that they were more then met, they were exceeded. In this first book in Elle Casey's War of the Fae Series, we meet some fantastic characters and watch as they embark on a fantastic and frightening journey.

Jayne Sparks is not like most people, at all, in the best possible way. She is bored with school, she is a social outcast, and she has a running dialogue with herself that borders on hysterical. Her colorful language [yes, there is lots of cussing in this book] is not merely added to make the character seem hip or cool, it is precisely what you would expect to hear from this feisty and unique teen. Jayne is a bit pushy, and has even commandeered a best friend in the form of sweet but socially inept Tony. Though she makes sure she isn't bullying him or making him feel bad, she gets her hooks into him, pronouncing him her best friend, and they eventually find that exact relationship.

Jayne comes from a rather fractured family, as so many kids do these days. Her parents are divorced, she is an only child living with her mother and her mother's latest boyfriend, and that is where the problem starts. Her mother's boyfriend places Jayne into the worst possible situation, and Tony, meek and geeky as he may be, tells Jayne she cannot go home, he will not let her. The two run away, with no clear destination, and no money, and that is the start of a a wild and twisting series of events that come to define Jayne's true destiny.

Fresh off the bus, quite literally, Jayne and Tony are taken in by a boy called Jared. Living in an abandoned warehouse with a group of other runaways, Jayne and Tony soon find themselves in need of money. When an opportunity to participate in a 'study' presents itself, along with a chance at a $500.00 paycheck, all the runaways decide to see if they can qualify as participants. But things are somehow never as easy as they seem. Jayne, suspicious by nature, is hyper-aware of the strange circumstances around her, and things quickly go from bad to worse for the group.

Jayne must use her keen intuition, her judgement of character, and her sense of right and wrong to guide her through an action packed journey that seems to get stranger by the second.

I found Jayne to be a really wonderful and funny protagonist, and so strong, even in the face of danger. Her loyalty to others makes her so much more than her tough exterior would indicate. You can't help but love this girl. I was literally laughing out loud at a lot of the dialogue, Elle Casey seems so in tune with exactly what teenagers are thinking and saying, they absolutely come to life off the pages. Typical to any Elle Casey novel, this one ends with a giant cliff hanger, so you had best have your next book in the series ready at hand, you will not be able to rest until you know what happens next.

This book is perfect for Young Adults, and in fact any Adult who enjoys some good, fast moving, and hilarious paranormal fiction - with a side of romantic crushes for good measure. The language may be more then some parents might approve of, Jayne freely admits that the F-word is her favorite, but it works with the character and the story, and I don't think that any child who has heard the language before will suddenly be corrupted just by reading it in this context, it is more humorous than offensive. I wouldn't hesitate to give this book to my 15 year old niece in a heartbeat, and she is not a potty mouthed kid, she just understands the difference between swearing for the sake of shock value, and swearing when you are in a crazy situation where you think you might not survive, there is a difference in my mind.

Fired Up Rating: 5/5 Flames

Bottom Line: Put this on your MUST READ list, and trust me when I say that you will fall in love with Jayne, her friends, this series of books, and especially with the writing of the very talented Elle Casey. She never fails to wow me with her wit, her rich characters, and her ability to find a way to leave you begging for more at the end of each chapter.